Chapter 183: Navigating Between Bellatrix and Tom
Nymphadora Tonks was a very interesting witch.
She seemed full of rebellion and a casual disregard for her surroundings, but interacting with her revealed that she was always more inclined to explore the essence of the world, the essence of truth, eager to seek out the world's true nature.
This was completely opposite to Lockhart.
Lockhart appeared gentle, always concerned with magic and everything in life, but he didn't truly care about the essence of the world.
There was no right or wrong in this, no hierarchy; the world always had countless facets, and everyone observed it from their own perspective.
Lockhart always explored phenomena.
This might be related to his initial "magical enlightenment" coming from a forest witch, and also to his chosen magical path in Defence Against the Dark Arts.
He explored all the phenomena involved in the transmission of magic, and the subtle relationships between all the factors participating in its manifestation.
Thus, he would observe the state of Tonks with great interest, seeing how she was affected by Azkaban Prison, and comparing it to his own experience.
He keenly sensed a difference.
When this difference was further compared to the effects on the prisoners in the surrounding cells and the Dementors occasionally passing by in the distance, that extremely subtle distinction became even greater.
Then he saw a figure that made his eyes light up—Bellatrix.
Bellatrix Lestrange, born into the Black family, was Sirius Black's cousin, and Draco Malfoy and Nymphadora Tonks's aunt.
When Tonks led Lockhart to the cells where Death Eaters were specifically held, Lockhart clearly felt that Bellatrix was the one most profoundly affected by Azkaban Prison.
Because—
She was actually actively accepting the influence of Azkaban and the Dementors upon herself.
This was a terrifying discovery.
Everyone in this prison instinctively resisted it, attempting to fend off the dreadful influence that would drive them mad. It was a primal defense, the mind's innate protection.
Only Bellatrix had actively let down her mental guard, allowing her mind to endure the erosion of everything terrible here.
That was why she appeared the maddest among all the Death Eaters.
So mad that her entire being seemed utterly twisted. When Lockhart and Tonks looked at her, she merely laughed hysterically, her laughter neurotic and unceasing.
"My mum said that witches from the Black family have a unique elegance in their bones," Tonks observed Bellatrix curiously. "She used to say Bellatrix was the most like a witch from an ancient pure-blood family. Now it seems…"
She sighed slightly. "Azkaban is truly terrifying."
Lockhart mused, "How strong is she?"
"Extremely powerful. Not every follower of the Dark Lord is a Death Eater, and every Death Eater possesses formidable strength." Tonks diligently began checking the status of each Death Eater, ensuring that Azkaban's methods of restricting and imprisoning these inmates were still effective.
"Indeed." Lockhart nodded. Old Voldy was a very picky person; if Bellatrix's strength wasn't up to a certain standard, no matter how loyal she was, Old Voldy wouldn't have taken an interest in her, let alone had a child with her.
The loyal witches around the three generations of Dark Lords were never simple.
Professor McGonagall, Vinda Rosier, Bellatrix—each could be considered among the top wizards of their time, just below the very peak.
"Done. Looks like they'll all be staying put here." After a quick round, Tonks coolly tucked her wand into her trench coat pocket.
"Are they?" Lockhart chuckled, glancing at Sirius in the corner cell, then turning his gaze back to Bellatrix. "She's trying to escape."
Tonks immediately grew wary. "That's impossible. No one can escape Azkaban. Too many powerful wizards have been held here, without exception!"
Despite her words, she still drew her wand again, casting several spells to inspect carefully.
"Apparition." Lockhart stood before the cell, staring intently at Bellatrix, marveling. "This is the first time I've realized that the magical distortion of Apparition has such a high similarity to the excessively dark and suppressed state of an Obscurus. And some people actually twist their minds to approach this state."
"Apparition?" Tonks immediately relaxed, rolling her eyes subtly. "You can't Apparate here."
"Just pretend it is."
Lockhart didn't bother to argue, scanning the few people around him before finally settling his gaze back on Bellatrix. "Her. Take her."
Taking Bellatrix was an extremely dangerous undertaking, as it would undoubtedly draw Voldemort's attention back to him.
But Bellatrix's unique state was simply too fascinating. Her mind, twisted and with its defenses wide open, was clearly extremely susceptible to the influence of dark magical creatures. She would be the easiest subject for trying out certain experiments.
"Are you sure?" Tonks's brows furrowed deeply.
Lockhart turned to look at her, scrutinizing her reluctance, and finally said softly, "Yes."
The process for transferring Azkaban prisoners was extremely complex. It was three days later that Bellatrix was finally sent to the Department of Mysteries' Hall of Genealogies. Furthermore, every time Lockhart needed to interact with Bellatrix, personnel from the Auror Office had to be present to supervise, ensuring no incidents occurred beyond the Ministry of Magic's control.
Of course, as Scrimgeour had said, the Auror Office was short-staffed, and the only one available to get involved in this matter was Tonks.
During this time, Lockhart sought out Madam Mary again. After he had released her, this witch had not returned to the Haitian wizarding community but had chosen to live alone in a corner of London, leading an extremely mundane life.
She seemed content with this ordinariness, yet there was a subtle restlessness within her. When Lockhart sought her out, she readily agreed to continue working for him.
Fortunately, the assistant identity paperwork Madam Mary had previously processed had not been cancelled at the Ministry, allowing her to smoothly return to the Hall of Genealogies.
Of course, neither Tonks nor Madam Mary realized that they had actually stepped into a fairy tale book quietly hidden within a dense mist.
Tom was also in the fairy tale book, though in a different Hogwarts scene, just a wall away from Bellatrix.
His progress on the "Everlasting Flame of Life" that he would eventually devise was not very fast.
Having missed too many experiences and reflections in life, some things could no longer be compensated for by talent alone. He had to seek help from Professor Lockhart.
He put forward a view that contradicted Lockhart's current understanding: the mind was not the fundamental essence of a person, but merely one component; the body and the body's thoughts were equally indispensable.
The basis for this judgment was that ghosts, after wizards died, did not let their minds guide their actions but continued the thoughts carried by their physical bodies, behaving exactly as they had before death.
Not only that, but magical portraits, a common sight for wizards, were also like this.
"Our physical bodies, truly existing in this world, and everything our minds can conceive, limited by the body—that is the true self," Tom stated gravely. "The mind, the soul, might just be a false proposition, or rather, it's merely a concept."
"So I believe—"
He caressed the magical notebook in his hand. "The so-called flame of life is actually in the body, not the soul."
This was a question of magical targeting.
If even the target of the spell was mistaken, it would undoubtedly lead to terrible disaster.
Lockhart merely smiled at him, making no comment, and gently prompted, "How do you think we should prove it?"
"Memory!" Tom tapped his temple with his wand. "Extracting memories doesn't truly make a person forget completely. It's actually etched into the soul, but our bodies cannot perceive or access these memories. Yet, they are always there; they still influence our behavior and emotions."
"But if the soul is truly just a concept, or a collection of concepts, then perhaps it can be argued that the concept of memory within the soul is actually 'the past'."
Lockhart was not annoyed by his theory being thus negated. After thinking seriously for a while, he acknowledged this plausible conjecture. "Yes, when memories are placed in a Pensieve, we can see other scenes from the time the memory occurred. Although sometimes incomplete, it indeed clearly exhibits the characteristic of 'time'."
Receiving his professor's affirmation, Tom immediately grew excited and continued to elaborate on his ideas.
"Yes, the characteristic of time! This means our past doesn't solely belong to us. Just as you said, society, nature, the world—everything beyond the self! The past exists in the memories of everyone who participated in that part of the memory."
"So we can go into the past, make someone forget certain information that only they know, and then return to the present world to observe that person, to see if they truly have forgotten completely."
"Professor, what do you think?"
This was truly an interesting idea.
Lockhart knew that Voldemort's exploration of memory was quite profound. The memories of his uncle and a rich woman's house-elf, which he modified during his life, showed no flaws even under the scrutiny of so many top wizards at the Wizengamot trials. Even Dumbledore couldn't find anything, which speaks volumes.
"I will help you find the answer." He expressed his willingness to assist this student.
Then…
Bellatrix, time to work!
Lockhart was not proficient in the magical domain of time, but fortunately, Madam Mary possessed sufficient bloodline talent in this area.
Thus, over the next period, Lockhart almost constantly moved between Bellatrix and Tom,
Proposing hypotheses, experimentally verifying them, discussing, proposing new hypotheses—each day was incredibly fulfilling.
Gradually, Lockhart also began to learn more about Bellatrix's past.
Or rather, he gained more insight into some of the deepest secrets of the Black family, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families, renowned for their supposedly most noble bloodline.
The Black family's magical bloodline ability turned out to be the extremely peculiar "Omen of Ill Fortune."
This was a completely new version of magical bloodline for Lockhart, a concept entirely different from "Phoenix Affinity," "Serpent Affinity," "Combat Talent," or "Fire Affinity."
"Mary, prepare yourself."
Lockhart waved his wand, manipulating Bellatrix to float in mid-air, gazing deeply at her. "I think I've discovered something incredible!"
Yes, he had a very strange feeling. He felt as though he was about to approach a very interesting answer.
....
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